Community-based participatory research (CBPR) in an education context equitably involves teachers, pupils, community members, organisational representatives and researchers, with a commitment to sharing power and resources and drawing on the unique strengths that each partner brings. The aim through this approach is to increase knowledge and understanding of a given phenomenon and integrate the knowledge gained into interventions, policy and social change to improve the health and quality of life of those in the school community. Sightsavers, a disability-focused iNGO, has been implementing a community-based participatory research approach (CBPR) within its education and social inclusion research in the global South. This paper describes the CBPR methodology, how it works within international development, and its impact on Sightsavers interventions in schools. Specific reference will be made to working with teachers as peer researchers – including those with disabilities, training material for peer researchers, CBPR ethical principles, and community analysis of data.
